Sen. Shaneka Henson

Maddy summarySB 989 (Safe Kids Act) creates a civil cause of action allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in unlawful child exploitation material to sue online platforms that knowingly distribute such material. The bill defines "unlawful child exploitation material" to include AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children, criminalizing platforms that knowingly issue, sell, or distribute these materials. It establishes remedies including actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for affected families, while exempting platforms acting solely as transmission services. The law applies to social media, apps, and websites that create or distribute content featuring minors in sexual situations, including AI-generated depictions.

Maddy summarySB 942 requires courts to order individuals under court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment to surrender all firearms to law enforcement if the court determines they pose a risk of causing physical harm to themselves or others with firearm access. This applies only during the duration of the treatment order and affects people subject to such court orders under Maryland's mental health law. The bill establishes procedures for surrender, storage of firearms by law enforcement, and return upon order expiration, including requiring officers to provide receipts and information on reclaiming firearms. It also allows courts to issue search warrants for unreturned firearms and use contempt powers for violations. The law modifies existing Maryland code sections governing assisted outpatient treatment to include these firearm safety measures.

Maddy summarySB 650, the "Know Before They Knock" Family Right to Notice Act, requires Maryland child protective services and law enforcement to provide parents or legal guardians with specific written and oral notice during initial contact in child abuse or neglect investigations. The notice details key rights, including the right to refuse entry into their home without a court order, the right to consult an attorney before speaking, and the right not to sign documents or allow interviews without legal counsel. This bill directly affects parents or guardians of children involved in investigations, changing the process by mandating this notice at the first point of contact. The law amends Maryland’s Family Law (Section 5-706) to ensure families understand their legal protections during investigations.

Maddy summarySB 938 establishes Maryland's Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing Stabilization Program to provide emergency capital repair funding for private, affordable multifamily rental properties with 15+ units serving low-income households. The program requires property owners to prove they lack sufficient operating or reserve funds to cover urgent repairs, and offers low- or no-interest loans or grants up to $1 million per property annually. The Governor may allocate $5 million yearly for the program during fiscal years 2028-2031, with priority given to repairs that reduce operating costs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Maddy summarySB 269 establishes a rebuttable presumption in Maryland courts that medical bills provided during discovery in personal injury or wrongful death cases are authentic, fair, and reasonable. This means courts will initially accept such bills as valid evidence without requiring expert testimony to verify their accuracy. Defendants can challenge this presumption by proving, with a preponderance of evidence, that specific charges are inaccurate, unfair, or unreasonable. The bill directly affects plaintiffs seeking compensation and defendants defending against medical billing disputes in civil litigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits detaining juveniles (under 18) in any facility where they could see, hear, or otherwise have contact with incarcerated adults. It applies to all juveniles awaiting trial, convicted, or held in custody for offenses tried in adult court. The law requires juveniles to be held in secure juvenile facilities unless temporarily held for up to 6 hours in an adult facility - while separated by sight/sound - pending transfer to a juvenile facility. Exceptions for capacity issues or safety risks remain but must be documented by the court.

Maddy summarySB 268 requires clinical professionals (licensed mental health providers) to assess new inmates at Maryland state correctional facilities for developmental or intellectual disabilities during intake. If assessed, facilities must limit restrictive housing (locked in a cell for 22+ hours daily) to 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period for these individuals, unless they commit a prohibited act like causing serious injury, making credible threats with prior violence, or possessing weapons. The bill excludes medical isolation, suicide watch, and self-requested protective custody from the restrictive housing definition. It applies only to Maryland state correctional facilities and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 138 allows defendants in specific criminal cases to present evidence that they were victims of domestic violence and that this violence significantly contributed to their crime as a mitigating factor during sentencing or within five years for sentence modification. It applies to crimes of violence, drug offenses tied to coercion, human trafficking, and other crimes committed under domestic violence circumstances - excluding murder, sexual offenses, and certain abuse crimes. If the court finds domestic violence was a significant factor, it must treat it as a mitigating factor and may reduce sentences below mandatory minimums or sentencing guidelines. The defendant bears the burden of proof (preponderance of evidence), and courts must state their reasoning for decisions related to this factor.

Maddy summarySB 107 prohibits individuals from intentionally sharing students' personal identifying information (like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or school details) without the student's or parent's consent if the information could cause harm. It directly affects students in secondary schools (grades 6-12) and postsecondary institutions (colleges offering associate/bachelor's degrees). The law allows exceptions for journalists, academic activities, legal disclosures, and safety-related sharing with campus officials. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail or a $5,000 fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans' organizations in Anne Arundel County to convert their existing Class C alcohol licenses (for clubs) to veterans-specific licenses. It reduces the annual license fee from $480 to $300 and permits these organizations to sell alcohol on Sundays without needing a separate Sunday permit. The bill also authorizes fee discounts for qualifying veterans' organizations applying for or renewing licenses. It specifically targets organizations with at least 100 military-member dues-paying members meeting federal veterans' group criteria. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.